[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        H.R. 2187, CLEANUP FUNDS FOR COLORADO OIL SHALE RESERVE

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                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 20, 2001

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, which I have 
cosponsored with my colleague, the dean of the Colorado delegation, 
Representative Hefley.
  H.R. 2187 would enable the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to begin 
environmental restoration activities at the Naval Oil Shale Reserve 3, 
near Rifle, Colorado, using existing funds in a special Treasury 
account.
  This account was specifically designated in the Strom Thurmond 
National Defense Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (Public Law 105-85) which 
transferred administration of the two Colorado Naval Oil Shale 
Reserves--Numbered 1 and 3, and known as NOSR 1 & 3--from the 
Department of Energy to the Department of the Interior for management 
by BLM.
  This provision was added to that act by an amendment offered by Mr. 
Hefley with the assistance and support of my predecessor, 
Representative David Skaggs. It specifies that receipts from existing 
mineral leases in NOSR 3 are to be retained in a special account 
intended for cleanup of contamination caused by previous activities on 
these lands. However, to avoid Budget Act problems the amendment 
provided that subsequent legislation would be required to authorize BLM 
to have access to the funds.
  Since enactment of Public Law 105-85, the Interior Department has 
collected approximately $8.5 million in lease receipts, which are 
currently held in the special cleanup account.
  Enactment of H.R. 2187 will allow BLM to use up to $1.5 million of 
these funds for the preliminary analyses needed before cleanup work can 
begin and to prepare an estimate of the cost of completing the project. 
BLM can then begin work, unless the estimated cost of the work would be 
more than the total in the special account. If the estimate indicates 
that more would be required than the total in the account, a subsequent 
authorization will be required before work can begin.
  Mr. Speaker, this is important legislation that will allow BLM to 
begin the process of cleaning up the lands involved and reducing the 
risks of contaminated runoff reaching the Colorado River. I commend Mr. 
Hefley for introducing the bill and urge its approval by the House.

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